9 students killed, others trapped after South Korea roof collapse

SEOUL, South Korea -- The roof of a resort auditorium
collapsed during a welcoming ceremony for South Korean
university freshmen, killing nine and likely trapping about 10, officials said
Tuesday.

The dead included seven students and
an adult; officials weren't sure yet if the ninth victim was a student. About
80 people were sent to hospitals with minor injuries, according to officials at
the state-run National Emergency Management Agency who spoke on condition of
anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak to the media.

Recent heavy snow, sleet and icy roads
hampered rescue operations after the roof's collapse late Monday. Emergency
staff worked to pry students from beneath twisted metal and rushed the injured
on stretchers to waiting ambulances. Officials initially estimated that 17
people were seriously injured but later said the injuries weren't severe.

Rescue workers search for survivors from a collapsed resort building in Gyeongju, South Korea, Feb. 17, 2014.

AP

South Korean
media reported that the heavy snowfall was believed to have resulted in the
collapse, but the cause was still being investigated.

About 560 students from Busan
University of Foreign Studies had been scheduled to attend a two-day freshman
orientation at the Manua Ocean Resort in the southeastern city of Gyeongju and
were in the auditorium when the roof collapsed, the officials said. An official
had earlier incorrectly said there were a total of 1,000 students at the
resort.

Many of the students managed to get
out of the building by themselves, officials said.

Repeated calls to the university and
the resort were unanswered.

Gyeongju is a historic city that
served as the capital of one of the Korean
Peninsula's ancient kingdoms. It is a popular tourist destination.

Located at an altitude of about 500
meters (1,640 feet), the resort is at the foot of Dongdae Mountain, according
to the resort's website. Weather officials said the area has received heavy
snow over the last week